Food and drink SMEs have chance of £20k worth of tech and innovation facilities

The initiative is supported with £1million of funding provided in September to the university by Research England, to coincide with Lincoln’s inclusion in the University Enterprise Zones (UEZ) scheme.

UEZ was designed to stimulate collaboration between academia and small business in order to provide better access to research, training and networking for companies that lacked the resources necessary.

David Thorpe, UEZ Fund programme manager, said: “The food manufacturing sector is huge, and one that supports thousands of jobs across the UK – and as we move into a digital revolution within the food sector businesses need to be as innovative as possible, and ensure that they are maximising their potential.

“NCFM helps the food manufacturing sector undertake food process and manufacturing trials, analysis and testing, product development, food safety and quality standards plus a wide range of training, to name a few of our expertise. 

“The support available through the UEZ Fund Programme will be tailored to match the development needs of the business taking part, and will depend on the specific needs it has to meet its strategy for growth and innovation. This new project will promote the newly developed Food Enterprise Zone (FEZ) and support businesses in their efforts to grow and relocate to its specialist business incubation spaces.”

The NCFM is recognised as a major research centre for food manufacturing, with services ranging from robotics and automation, to associated sciences, with sector specialists and equipment to help businesses with innovative growth and transformation projects.

Food and drink businesses wishing to participate can send their details, along with a summary of what their business needs are directly to UEZ Fund Programme manager David Thorpe via dthorpe@lincoln.ac.uk.

For more about the NCFM, click here.